Regional businesses win one-year extension to switch power tariffs

The Queensland Government has given regional
farmers and businesses an extra year to move to the standard electricity
tariffs that the rest of the state’s businesses pay.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham today
announced that the 30,000-plus customers on a collection of obsolete and
transitional electricity tariffs, some of which are more than 25 years old,
would have until June 30, 2021 to move.

But he urged them all to call the special
Ergon Energy hotline 1300 554 029, as there are thousands of customers that could
already be saving money if they switched to standard business tariffs now.

“It will give farmers and regional businesses extra time to look at options for saving power, such as how and when they use electricity, or installing more efficient irrigation pumps, refrigeration systems, LED lighting or solar panels,” Mr Lynham said.

“It also will give businesses more time to understand the package of tariff options Ergon Energy has been working on with these regional customers now for some time.

“I strongly encourage all regional businesses
on transitional or obsolete tariffs to contact Ergon Energy to check what the
right tariff is for their particular circumstances.”

The independent Queensland Competition
Authority started phasing out obsolete and transitional regional retail tariffs
in 2012. From July 1, 2019, no new customers will be able to sign up for them.

The seven tariffs date back years, some of
them back to pre-1993, and are not based on the cost of supplying electricity
through the network.

Dr Lynham said Ergon Energy and his Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy had been working closely with farmers and businesses to help them transition to tariffs that best meet their needs.